Jain units of time range from an infinitesimally small, indivisible measurement of time known as a samayÃÂ to innumerable lengths of time measured in sagaropama and palyopama years, including cycles of cosmic time (kalachakras) that repeat general events in Jain cosmology. Each cycle is divided into two eras of equal duration described as the avasarpini and the utsarpini. The former is a descending era in which virtue gradually decreases. The latter is an ascending era in which the reverse takes place. The present era is stated to be the former.
Note: In the utsarpiá¹Âë, the six aras take place in reverse order.